Housing & Banking (Rent Contract + Bank Account)
Housing: Conclusion of the rental contract
Although both students need the Codice Fiscale to register the contract with the Agenzia delle Entrate, the identity documents required to attach to the contract differ:
EU students:
- Identity document: The landlord concludes the contract directly based on the identity card (bulletin) or passport from the country of origin.
- Guarantees: The process is simpler, being European citizens, and credit checks (if there is a guarantor/parent) are easier to do in the EU.
Non-EU students:
- Identity document: The landlord cannot legally register the contract based only on the visa in the passport for long periods. The student must necessarily present the postal receipt (receipt) of the residence permit.
- Additional obligation (Dichiarazione di Ospitalità): The landlord who accommodates a Non-EU citizen is required by law to file a declaration of hospitality with the Police (Questura) within 48 hours. Without the receipt of the student's residence permit, the landlord risks huge fines, which is why many refuse Non-EU students if they do not have the documents.
Banking: Opening the account for scholarships and fees
Here is the biggest bottleneck, because Italian banks apply strict anti-money laundering rules (Anti-Money Laundering) that are different for citizens from outside the European area.
EU students:
- Procedure: Open a free student account (Conto Corrente Studenti) instantly at major banks (e.g. Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit).
- Documents required: Only the ID card/passport from the EU country, Codice Fiscale and proof of enrollment at the university. I receive a complete Italian IBAN the same day, ready to send to the university for scholarships.
Non-EU students:
- Procedure: They are considered third country residents. Many traditional banks refuse to open a standard account if the student does not have a physical Permesso di Soggiorno card (which can take months to print).
- Fallback solution: They have to look for banks or special services (such as Postepay Evolution from the Italian Post Office or flexible digital banks) that accept account opening based on postal receipt (receipt) and passport, as a temporary solution to avoid losing the first installments of their scholarships.
Housing
The housing market in Italy is one of the biggest challenges for international students. Cities such as Milan, Bologna, Rome and Turin are facing an acute housing crisis, which is why the search should start at least 3-4 months before arrival.
Accommodation options are divided into three main categories: student-only platforms, private real estate platforms and public/university options.
1. Student-only platforms (Secure and Verified)
These platforms are ideal for international students because they allow booking completely online, before arriving in Italy, and offer increased protection against fraud. A big advantage is that many of them issue an official accommodation certificate, a mandatory document often requested at embassies to obtain a study visa (especially for Non-EU students).
- HousingAnywhere: One of the most popular platforms in Italy. Your money is securely locked by the platform and only transferred to the owner 48 hours after you move in, ensuring that the property matches reality.
- Uniplaces: Very strong in Milan, Rome and Florence. It has a rigorous system of verification of owners (Verified Listings). All details related to expenses (utilities included or not) are displayed transparently.
- AmberStudent(https://amberstudent.com/): A great option for booking rooms in private co-living student residences. It offers free 24/7 support throughout the entire rental process.
- Spotahome: Sends physical teams to the field to film, photograph and inspect apartments. This way, you can see a real video tour of the room before sending the money.
2. Private Real Estate Platforms (Local Market)
These sites are used by local real estate agencies (agenzie immobiliari) and private Italian landlords. Prices can be lower, but require more attention to detail and, most often, knowledge of the Italian language.
- Idealista.it: Italy's largest rental portal. It has a special section dedicated exclusively to students called "Affitto stanze" (Rooms for rent in shared apartments). Here you can filter the ads by the gender of the roommates or student status.
- Immobiliare.it: Italy's second most used real estate search engine. Ads posted by agencies predominate, which means you will have to pay an agency fee (provvigione), equivalent to 1-2 months' rent.
3. Public Options and University Residences
- DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario): Each region in Italy (Lazio, Lombardia, Emilia-Romagna) has a public body that offers places in student dormitories at very low prices (subsidized, between €150 and €300). These are granted strictly based on the family's financial situation reflected in the ISEE Parificato document. Places are limited and applications usually close early in the summer.
Golden rules for student safety
1. Type of Contract: For students there is a special contract called Contratto di locazione per studenti universitari (duration between 6 months and 3 years), much more flexible than the classic 4+4 type.
2. No money upfront on trust: No student should send a security deposit (caparra) via direct bank transfers or Western Union based on simple pictures received on WhatsApp or Facebook. Payment is only made through secure platforms or after signing the contract.
3. Hidden costs (Expenses): Check whether the rental price is Expenses included (with utilities and community fees included) or Expenses excluded. Block fees (condominium fees) can easily add between €50 and €150 per month to the final cost.
Student-only platforms (Secure and Verified)
HousingAnywhere
Is one of the most recommended platforms by HubStudentsEurope for students going to Italy. The reason is simple: it solves the biggest problem of an international student—the security of the transaction before arriving in the country.
In extremely crowded cities like Milan, Bologna, Rome or Florence, where the competition for a room is fierce, this platform acts as a secure intermediary between the student and the landlord.
How the security system works (Anti-Scam)
The biggest fear of students is sending the deposit and discovering that the apartment does not exist. On HousingAnywhere, this risk is eliminated through the secure payment system:
- The student pays the first month of rent directly on the platform to reserve the room.
- HousingAnywhere blocks the money and does not send it to the landlord immediately.
- The money is transferred to the landlord's account only 48 hours after the student's official move-in date.
- If the student arrives at the location and finds that the reality does not correspond at all to the photos or description on the website, they have 48 hours to report the problem to receive their money back.
Accommodation Certificate for Visa (Crucial for Non-EU)
For students from outside the European Union who have already completed Step 2 (Formalization of stay), HousingAnywhere offers a massive bureaucratic advantage.
- Once a reservation is confirmed, the platform generates a set of official reservation and billing documents.
- These documents serve as official proof of accommodation (Accommodation Proof), being directly accepted by embassies and consulates for issuing a study visa for Italy.
Costs and Fee Policy
It is important for students to budget their expenses correctly, as using the platform involves certain costs:
1. Booking Fee: HousingAnywhere charges a one-time service fee when booking a room (it represents a percentage of the rent or a fixed amount, clearly visible before payment).
2. Security Deposit: This is not usually paid through the platform in the first phase. Once the student has moved in and the 48 hours have passed, the security deposit (equivalent to 1-3 months of rent) is paid directly to the landlord, as specified in the ad.
Practical tips for students on HousingAnywhere Italy
- Pay attention to the “Verified Landlord” label: Look for landlords who have this badge. It means that the platform team has verified their identity, history and, in many cases, physical visits to the location have been carried out.
- Check the "Utilities" section: In Italy, the costs of the apartment (condominium fees), internet, gas and electricity can be included in the price (All-inclusive) or calculated separately. On the platform, this is clearly detailed in the right-hand sidebar of each ad.
- Communicate only through the platform: Landlords who try to convince students to move the conversation to WhatsApp or send money via Western Union/direct bank transfer should be reported immediately. If the transaction takes place outside the site, the 48-hour guarantee disappears.
- Be quick: In university cities like Bologna, a good ad receives dozens of applications in the first few hours. Complete your student profile 100% (add proof of acceptance from the university, a short description about yourself) to become an attractive tenant from the start.
Uniplaces Italy
Is another top platform recommended for international students on HubStudentsEurope. It has a very strong presence in major university cities such as Milan, Rome, Florence, Turin and Bologna.
Like HousingAnywhere, Uniplaces focuses on medium and long-term bookings made entirely online, before the student physically arrives in Italy.
How does Uniplaces’ security system work?
Their system is designed to protect students’ money from real estate fraud:
- Payment in advance: The student pays the first month’s rent directly on the site to lock the room.
- Money is held: Uniplaces holds the amount in a secure account.
- Transfer to the landlord: The money is released to the landlord 24 hours after the student officially moves in. If the room does not exist or is completely different from the photos, the student must report the problem within this time to block the payment.
Verified Listings
One of the biggest advantages of the platform in Italy is the “Checked” / “Verified” label.
- The Uniplaces team physically visits a large part of the apartments.
- They take professional photos, draw house plans and film real video tours.
- This minimizes unpleasant surprises and gives students the certainty that what they are booking is real.
Useful for visa and bureaucracy
For Non-EU students coming to Italy, confirming the reservation on Uniplaces generates an official receipt and a digital contract. This document can be used at the consulate as proof of accommodation required to obtain a study visa. The platform also uses contract templates adapted for students, facilitating subsequent registration with the Agenzia delle Entrate.
Fee Structure and Cancellation Policy
It is important for students to know the financial details before booking:
1. One-time Service Fee: Uniplaces charges a one-time fee to process the reservation. This fee is non-refundable in case of cancellation due to the tenant's fault.
2. Flexible or strict cancellation policies: Owners choose their own cancellation rules (Flexible, Moderate, Strict, Non-refundable). Students should carefully check the policy box on the room page: for example, a Flexible policy offers a 30-day refund of the rent before moving out, but a Strict one requires a 90-day notice.
Tips & Tricks for students on Uniplaces Italy
- ESN (Erasmus Student Network) partnerships: Uniplaces officially collaborates with many ESN branches in Italy (such as ESN Trento or Milan). Students can often use promo codes (e.g. ESNINTERNATIONAL) to get a 25% discount on the platform’s service fee.
- Beware of “Bills Included”: Many listings state “Bills included”. However, students should read the full description: sometimes there is a monthly limit (e.g. max €50/month for electricity), and anything above this amount is charged extra.
- No external payments: If a host on the platform asks for money via direct bank transfer before the booking has been officially approved by Uniplaces, it is a fraud attempt. All initial transactions must be made on the site to maintain the 24-hour guarantee.
AmberStudent
Is a great platform because it approaches the Italian real estate market from a different angle than HousingAnywhere or Uniplaces.
While other platforms focus on rooms in shared private apartments, AmberStudent specializes in private student residences (PBSA - Purpose-Built Student Accommodation) and co-living buildings in large cities such as Milan, Rome, Bologna or Turin.
1. What does AmberStudent offer specifically in Italy?
The platform collaborates directly with large chains of private student residences (such as Camplus, The Social Hub, DoveVivo or other modern campuses).
- Fully furnished rooms: Students can book private studios, small apartments or rooms on campus that include premium amenities.
- Amenities included: Most buildings offer access to gyms, coworking/study spaces, laundry facilities, high-speed Wi-Fi and 24/7 security.
- All-Inclusive: All utilities (water, electricity, gas, internet, block taxes) are usually included in a single fixed monthly price, completely eliminating the fear of unexpected bills or hidden costs (excludable expenses).
2. The “1-on-1 Booking Consultant” model (Free Assistance)
Unlike sites where the student speaks directly to the owner, Amber uses a personalized consulting model:
- After a student expresses interest in a room, the platform assigns them a dedicated Booking Consultant, completely free of charge.
- The consultant takes care of all communication: helps check availability, explains the legal terms of the Italian rental contract and guides the student step by step through the residence registration process.
- This service is a real help for international students who do not know the Italian language or the local system.
3. Security, Prices and Cancellation Policy
- No Fraud (100% Verified): All properties on Amber are verified at corporate level. The risk of running into a ghost owner is zero.
- Best Price Guarantee (Price Match Guarantee): Amber promises that the prices listed on their website are identical to those offered directly by the student residences, without hidden extras.
- Official Visa Documents: Residences quickly issue the official reservation document and contract, essential documents that Non-EU students must submit to the embassy to obtain a visa, according to the steps discussed previously.
- Residence-specific cancellation policies: Each building has its own rules. Some residences allow free cancellation if the student is denied a study visa or is not admitted to the university (No Visa, No Pay / No Place, No Pay policy), an extremely important detail for Non-EU students.
Practical tips for students
- Book early (January - May): Places in private residences in Italy sell out first. Prices increase as September approaches, so students should act as soon as they receive their acceptance letter from the university.
- Pay attention to the length of the contract: Most large residences in Italy require fixed-term contracts, usually 9 months (academic year) or 12 months (full calendar year). It is quite difficult to find a room through them for only 3 or 4 months (e.g. for a short Erasmus semester), except during the summer periods.
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Spotahome
Is a highly innovative and useful platform for international students, standing out with a unique concept in the Italian real estate market: 100% online rental without the need for a physical viewing by the student.
It has a solid presence in major Italian cities (Milan, Rome, Florence, Bologna, Turin) and completely eliminates the stress of traveling to Italy just to look for a room.
Unique concept: Physically Verified Properties (Homecheckers)
The biggest fear of an international student is that the photos on the internet do not reflect reality. Spotahome solves this problem through their local teams of professionals (Homecheckers):
- On-site visits: Spotahome employees physically go to each listed apartment.
- HD video tours: They film a complete tour, video and audio, in which they open the cabinets, show the view from the window and explain the configuration of the house.
- Real photos and plans: I take high-resolution professional photos and draw the exact floor plan of the property.
- Honest descriptions: Note precise technical details (if there is a washing machine, which floor it is, if there is an elevator or if utilities are included).
Thanks to this rigorous process, the platform guarantees that what you see in the video is exactly what you will find when you arrive in Italy.
Guarantee and Security System (24h Protection)
To ensure a risk-free transaction, Spotahome uses a secure payment system similar to other major platforms:
1. The student pays the first month of rent directly on the site when making the reservation request.
2. Spotahome holds this money securely.
3. The money is transferred to the owner's account 24 hours after the student's official move-in date.
4. If within the first 24 hours the student notices major differences between reality and the description on the site, they can report the problem to get their money back or be relocated for free.
Useful for visas and types of landlords
- Documents for the Embassy (Non-EU): Like HousingAnywhere, a contract confirmed through Spotahome comes with official digital documents that serve as valid proof of accommodation for obtaining a student visa.
- Types of landlords: On the platform you will find both private landlords (Landlords) and property management companies (Property Managers). Companies often have stricter rules (such as paying an additional administrative fee), but offer very clear contracts and fast bureaucratic processes.
Fee Structure and “No Deposit” Policy
- Booking Fee: Spotahome charges a one-time fee for their verification and security services, visible before making the payment.
- “No Deposit” option: A huge advantage that students can find through Spotahome filters is the possibility to select properties that do not require a security deposit (No Deposit) or require an extremely low deposit. In a country like Italy, where traditional landlords often ask for 2-3 months of rent in advance as a security deposit (caparra), this option greatly eases the initial financial effort of a student.
Practical tips for students on Spotahome Italy
- Check the “Landlord Policies” section: Each landlord sets their own rules that you should read at the bottom of the page (e.g. if they accept couples, if there is a minimum/maximum age, or rules regarding visitors).
- Beware of the Admin Fee: Some large agencies that list their rooms on Spotahome charge a one-off administration fee (separate from the Spotahome fee) for the final cleaning or the registration of the contract with the Agenzia delle Entrate. This is clearly stated in the description and should be taken into account in your budget.
- Filter by "Verified": Make sure to check off properties verified by Homecheckers to access the full video tour.
Private Real Estate Platforms (Local Market)
Idealista.it
Is the largest and most widely used real estate portal in Italy. Unlike international platforms such as HousingAnywhere or Uniplaces, Idealista is an open search engine, used locally by both private owners and real estate agencies (agenzie immobiliari).
It is the platform where students find the lowest prices, but it requires careful navigation and a greater degree of direct involvement.
Key section for students: "Affitto stanze"
To avoid wasting time among ads for entire houses for sale or long-term rent, international students should go directly to the section dedicated to the co-living market:
- Filter by rooms: Look for the "Stanze / Posti letto" (Rooms / Places in a room) section.
- Room types:
- Camera singola: Single room in an apartment shared with other students or young professionals.
- Camera doppia / Posto letto: A bed in a double room (shared with another student). It is the cheapest option possible in Italy, ideal for low budgets.
Advantages vs. Risks on Idealista Italia
As an open platform, it comes with a different set of rules:
Advantages:
- Real market prices: Since the ads are posted directly by locals, the prices are not inflated by platform commissions intended for tourists or expats.
- Huge volume of ads: In big cities like Milan, Bologna or Rome, thousands of new rooms are added daily.
- Advanced filters: You can filter the ads by the gender of the current roommates (only girls/boys), if pets are allowed or if the house is smoking.
Risks and Bureaucracy:
- Language barrier: Most of the private owners on Idealista are elderly Italians who do not speak English. Messages written in English are often ignored.
- Agency fees (Provvigione): Many listings are placed by agencies. If you rent through them, you will have to pay a fixed fee (usually the equivalent of 1 or 2 months' rent + VAT), in addition to the security deposit (caparra) requested by the owner.
- Risk of fraud (Scams): Idealista does not hold money in a secure account like Spotahome. Transactions are made directly between you and the owner. Golden rule: Never send money in advance by bank transfer before seeing the room in person (or via live video call) and before signing any documents.
Required document: Student contract
Serious owners on Idealista will sign a legal contract called Contratto di locazione per studenti universitari (with a flexible duration between 6 months and 3 years).
In order for this contract to be valid (and to help you later at university or for residency/scholarships), the owner is required by law to register it with the Agenzia delle Entrate within 30 hours of signing.
- Always ask from the start: “Il contratto viene registrado?” (Will the contract be registered?).
Practical tips from HubStudentsEurope.com
1. Use templates in Italian: Recommend that students prepare a short introductory message correctly translated into Italian (who they are, what they are studying, the duration of the contract, details of the financial guarantee from their parents).
2. Call, don’t just text: In Italy, a direct phone call (or a WhatsApp message to the number indicated in the ad) has a response rate 10 times higher than messages sent through the internal chat of the Idealista platform.
3. Be quick: Good rooms in Bologna or Milan at low prices on Idealista often disappear within 24 hours of being posted. Activate your email alerts in the app.
Immobiliare.it
Is the second largest real estate portal in Italy and the main competitor to Idealista. Like it, it is an open search engine, heavily used locally by landlords and real estate agencies (agenzie immobiliari).
It is an essential platform that HubStudentsEurope users can use to find excellent market prices, but it comes with strict rules and a massive presence of professional agencies.
The dedicated section for students: “Stanze”
To access the co-living market and avoid ads for entire houses or commercial spaces, international students should select the “Stanze” option directly from the main menu.
Here they can filter their search specifically:
- Camera singola: Single room in an apartment with other students.
- Posto letto / Camera doppia: A bed in a double room (shared). It is the cheapest way to stay in Italian university cities.
Advantages and Challenges on Immobiliare.it
Advantages of the platform:
- Accurate local prices: The ads reflect the real price of the Italian market, without the tourist surcharges present on international platforms.
- Excellent mobile application: Their application has a very well-developed map system. Students can draw a circle directly on the map in which they want to search (for example, only around their university) and receive instant alerts when a new room appears in that area.
- Extremely detailed filters: Allows filtering of properties according to the type of heating (autonomous or centralizzato—very important for the cost of bills in winter), floor, elevator or the presence of air conditioning.
Bureaucratic and financial challenges:
- Predominance of real estate agencies: Unlike other platforms, on Immobiliare.it most ads are posted by agencies (annuncio agenzia). This means that the student will have to pay an agency fee (provvigione), which is usually the equivalent of 10% or 12% of the annual rent or the value of 1-2 months rent + VAT (22%). This cost is non-refundable.
- Language barrier: Agents and private owners use Italian. Messages in English are ignored in 90% of cases due to the huge volume of requests from locals.
- Payment security (Fraud risk): The platform does not have an escrow system like Spotahome or HousingAnywhere. All financial transactions are settled directly with the owner or agency.
Golden Rule for HubStudentsEurope users
Since Immobiliare.it works as an open catalog, there is a risk that some malicious users will post fake ads.
- No money in advance: Do not under any circumstances send the security deposit (caparra) by direct bank transfer or Western Union before signing an official and registered contract or before physically seeing the apartment (or through a live video call on WhatsApp in which the owner shows the details of the house).
- Agency Verification: If the ad is placed by an agency, the student can search the name of the agency on Google to ensure that it is a real real estate company, with a physical office in the city.
Public Options and University Residences
DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario)
Is the most important public support program in Italy, aimed at ensuring access to higher education for students with limited financial resources. This section is of critical interest as it combines two major advantages: substantial scholarships and places in student residences (dormitories) at subsidized or even free prices.
The program is managed at regional (not national) level, which means that each region in Italy has its own official DSU body, with its own rules, deadlines and application platforms.
DSU bodies in major university regions
Before applying, the student needs to know in which region his/her university is located in order to access the correct website:
- Lombardy (Milan, Pavia, Brescia): Often managed directly by universities (e.g. Politecnico di Milano DSU, UniMi DSU) or through regional partnerships.
- Emilia-Romagna (Bologna, Modena, Parma): Managed by ER.GO.
- Lazio (Rome): Managed by Disco Lazio (formerly Laziodisu).
- Piedmont (Turin): Managed by EDISU Piemonte.
- Tuscany (Florence, Pisa, Siena): Managed by DSU Toscana.
- Veneto (Padua, Venice): Managed by ESU Padova / ESU Venezia.
Housing component through DSU
Places in student dormitories managed by DSU are the cheapest form of accommodation in Italy, but competition is extremely tough.
- Types of beneficiaries:
- Full scholarship students (Vincitori): Receive free accommodation in DSU dormitories for the entire academic year.
- Reduced rate students (Idonei non vincitori): If they meet the financial criteria, but there are not enough funds for a full scholarship, they can receive a room at a subsidized rate (between €150 and €250/month, well below the private market price).
- Facilities: DSU dormitories usually offer single or double rooms, shared kitchens, laundry facilities, study rooms and internet included.
- Rental Contribution (Contributo Alloggio): In some regions (such as ER.GO in Bologna), if the student is eligible for accommodation but the dormitories are full, DSU may offer a monthly financial aid (rental grant) to partially cover the costs of a room rented on the private market (HousingAnywhere, Uniplaces, etc.).
Key Document: ISEE Parificato
Unlike academic criteria, DSU accommodation and scholarships are awarded based on the financial situation of the student's family. To demonstrate this situation, international students (both EU and Non-EU) must obtain a document called ISEE Parificato (or ISEE Universitario per studenti stranieri).
To generate the ISEE Parificato, the student must collect from the country of origin (legalized and translated into Italian):
1. Family composition (family certificate).
2. Gross income of all family members in the previous fiscal year requested (e.g. salary slips, pension slips).
3. Real estate owned by the family (square meter area of the home or certificate that they do not own any other property).
4. Financial assets (bank statements with the balance on December 31 of the requested year).
These documents are sent online or physically to a CAF (Centro di Assistenza Fiscale) in Italy, which will calculate the ISEE value free of charge. If the ISEE value is below the threshold established by the region (usually around €23,000 - €25,000), the student becomes eligible for benefits.
Strict Deadlines
This is the most important warning for HubStudentsEurope: DSU applications open and close in the SUMMER, before the student starts college!
- Time Barriers: Applications usually start in June - July and close in late August or early September.
- If a student waits to arrive in Italy in October to sort out their accommodation, they will completely lose the DSU opportunity for the entire academic year.
How does DSU relate to Step 3 (Housing & Banking)?
1. Vicious Circle: In order to receive the DSU scholarship or rental assistance, the regional body will ask the student for a bank account with an Italian IBAN (Banking Step).
2. Backup Plan: Since the final results for DSU dormitories are displayed late (September), students should be advised to also look for private accommodation with a flexible cancellation policy (on platforms like Uniplaces or Spotahome), in case they do not get a place in the dormitory.
